Pantograph apparatus

ABSTRACT

Improved pantograph apparatus for providing pantographic movement of an instrument in three dimensional or in-depth aspects having the usual means for providing travel in all horizontal planes and having further an elevating mechanism with an adjustably oriented tilting plate on which are mounted a router and stylus element for performing the controlled operations according to the invention.

United States Patent Hoenig PANTOGRAPH APPARATUS [76] Inventor: George Hoenig, 6521 Morton Drive,

Boise, Idaho 83704 [22] Filed: Nov. 3, 1971 [21] Applt No.: 195,308

[52] U.S. Cl 144/144, 90/135, 142/7 [51] Int. Cl. B27c 5/00 [58] Field of Search 90/135; 144/144 R,

l44/144.5, 137; 408/DIG. I; 142/6, 7

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,543,636 12/1970 Tracy 144/144 R 3,255,791 6/1966 Garraffa 144/144 S X 3,143,901 8/1964 Bawtinheimer 90/135 June 19, 1973 Lyons 142/7 McCann 142/7 Primary Examiner-Andrew R. .l'uhasz Assistant Examiner- W. D. Bray Attorney-Keith Misegades, George R. Douglas, Jr., Sherman Leny [57] ABSTRACT Improved pantograph apparatus for providing pantographic movement of an instrument in three dimen sional or in-depth aspects having the usual means for providing travel in all horizontal planes and having further an elevating mechanism with an adjustably oriented tilting plate on which are mounted a router and stylus element for performing the controlled operations according to the invention.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing; Figures PATENIE JUN 1 9197s slmanrg Fig, 2

l L IQOIOI Fig.3

PANTOGRAPH APPARATUS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved pantographic apparatus for performing in-depth operations controlled in precision and orientation over the known prior art and, more particularly, the invention relates to three-dimensional pantographic presentation of a stylus and router element. In this manner, and according to the invention as shown in its best mode as required according to 35 U.S.C. S112, there is provided a counter-balancing assembly and details of the movement of the third (or vertical) plane in which are shown the machine having the unique features of the invention. The stylus and router may provide for rotatable mounting of the master and work pieces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The prior art is replete with many forms and variations of pantographic apparatus, and all manner of omni-directionally movable surfaces or plates, such as those for mounting plates, mounting blocks, and pillow blocks, such as have been manufactured by Thomson Industries, Inc., Manhasset, N. Y. 11030. These typical devices provide for an arrangement of rails to give rigid continuous support and the like. Also, elementary forms of elevating mechanisms and tilting plates in various environments of tools have been known or suggested. However, as appears according to the present invention, there are no known. complex arrangements having elevating mechanisms with counterweight control and being provided with tilting plate mountings on which are provided arouter and stylus element.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objects, features over the prior art, and advantages of the present invention are:

l. A chatter-free operation, resulting in a more accu rate reproduction of the master.

2. Rigidity of both master and the medium, resulting in more accurate reproduction.

3. Rigidity of the operational and functioning planes also contributing to accuracy.

4. Any movement of any plane can be locked at any point without affecting the movement of other planes.

5. All planes can and do move freely, individually or in any combination.

6. Accuracy is also controlled by having all pivot and vertex points critically located in close proximity of the stylus and cutting points, thus eliminating virtually all flex and unintended movement.

7. Use of linear bearings for all horizontal movements for ease of operation and accuracy.

8. Addition of a third dimensional working plane in the art of pantographs.

9. The horizontal planes, coupled with a third operating vertical plane which can be rotated on the vertical plane, places the stylus and cutting points in operating position at any location within the operating universe without restriction or affecting the accuracy of its functions.

10. The master and the work can be rotated 360 without affecting the operation of the machine or accuracy of the reproduction, resulting in increased versatility of the machines operation.

12. Increasing the size of the machine and, therefore,

the size of its operating universe does not affect its accuracy.

While the embodiment of the invention is of general utility and application, the best mode thereof is easily adaptable to working in almost any popular medium or environment, while the parallelogram arrangement of the prior art is found to be limited in that the most dense media affect its accuracy by virtue of the lack of control over movement in the whole of the machine.

It is therefore a further advantage of the invention to provide improved pantographic apparatus to be used for duplication of gun stocks, and the like, from a master. However, its possible functions are not limited to that medium and may be used for the duplication of objects of metal, plastic and others.

The present invention is seen as encompassing an arrangement unlike the prior art, considering that most, if not all, pantographs now in existence operate and perform on the principle of a parallelogram. There are known defects in the parallelograph principle in that the larger the scale of the machine, the less the accuracy in its reproduction of a master or template. Further, the ease with which the parallelograph can be operated is adversely affected by increases in its size. Thus the advantages, objects and improvements of the present invention are realized in the contemplation thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon full consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the improved pantographic apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view taken from the right side of FIG. 1; I

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged detailed view partly in sec tion and broken in part of self-aligning ball bushing mountings for the table on the rods for achieving horizontal movements; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the ball bearing roller bearing arrangement for a three bearing point contact for supporting the elevating table on the upright table in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a frame 10 of generally rectangular construction formed of longitudinal members 12,12 and end members 14,14. Upon the frame there is a pair of horizontally disposed and parallel arranged cylindrical rods 16,18 which are mounted on projections 20 secured to the frame.

A flat table 24 is provided on its undersurface with four or more self-aligning ball or linear bearings bushings 26,28, or the like type of bushings, for engaging in sliding relation with the respective cylindrical rods 16,18. (See FIG. 4.) This provides for'longitudinal movement relative to the frame.

On the flat table 24 there is disposed a pair of horizontally arranged parallel cylindrical rods 30,32 mounted on metallic projections 34 secured to the rods and the flat table 24.

A secondary table 36 which may be irregularly contoured, such as T-shaped or the like, has disposed on its undersurface four or more self-aligning ball bushings or linear bearings 40,42, or the like type of bushings, for providing sliding engagement with the respective cylindrical rods 30,32.

This combined arrangement provides for travel in all directions in the horizontal plane.

A ring gear 50, a pinion 52 and crank means 54 are provided in duplicate fashion for mounting on a shaft 56 on the frame at the right-hand end member 14. On the opposite side of the end member 14 is a universal joint coupling member 58,58.

On an intermediate end member 14a, there is a pair of rotatably mounted ball joint members 60,60. The universal joint coupling members 58,58 and the ball joint members securely support a master piece 66 and a work piece 68, respectively.

At one edge of the table 36 is securely connected an upright table 70. A pulley mechanism 72 and its support member 74 extend from the upper portion of the upright table 70.

A cable or rope 76 threaded through the pulley 72 is connected or secured to an elevating table 80 at one end, and the other end is connected to a counterweight 82 which is telescopically mounted in a slide member 84.

The elevating table 80 has linear bearings 86 for pro-- viding sliding relation to cylindrical rods 88, the rods being fixedly secured to the upright table 70 by projections 90. The linear bearings allow the elevating table 80 relative movement in a vertical component and provide travel in respect thereto.

There is disposed outwardly of the lower portion of the elevating table 80 a set of shaft stubs in alignment with each other and on which are rotatably mounted hubs 94,94, respectively. Between the hubs 94,94 is a tilting plate 96 secured to the hubs for rotating with the hubs. On the tilting plate 96 is secured a stylus 98 for following the master piece 66, and a cutter or router 100 for cutting the work piece 68.

The linear bearings for performing the vertical contact function may be especially constructed of a plurality, such as three or more, of ball bearing roller bearings l06,l08,l 10 (FIG. arranged for a three point or more, as the case may be, contact with the rod and to support securely and firmly the movement of the elevating table with respect to the upright table. This is accomplished so that the bearings are equally and peripherally spaced about the rod 88. Such mounting means may have adjustment elements 114,114 for lateral adjustment toenable compensation and adjustment for play and to provide essentially true vertical movement of the elevating table in the apparatus of the invention.

The hubs 94,94 may have an arcuate recess or aperture 116 near their circumference for receiving a threaded member 118 engaging with a lever actuable nut 120 for looking or securing the hub in place, and thus tighten the hub to the elevating table, resulting in fixing the tilting plate as desired.

The tilting plate 96 may be disposed along a nondiametric portion of the hub, as shown in the preferred embodiment. The hub may be provided with indicia 124 showing the degree and portion from a vertical orientation.

The crank 54 may similarly be provided with indicia 126 showing the degree and position in rotation of the master and work pieces.

In order to assist in operating the apparatus, an illuminating apparatus 130 is provided to direct light upon the master and work pieces.

Additional embodiments of the invention in this specification will occur to others, and therefore it is intended that the true spirit of the invention be limited only by the appended claims and not by the embodiment described hereinabove. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims in determining the true spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved pantograph apparatus comprising:

a rectangular frame having a pair of horizontally disposed cylindrical rods mounted thereon, a table mounted by linear bearings upon said rods for longitudinal movement relative to the frame,

a pair of horizontally disposed secondary cylindrical rods mounted upon said table, a secondary table mounted by linear bearings upon said secondary rods for transverse movement relative to the frame and providing travel in directions throughout a horizontal plane,

at one end of the frame ring gear, pinion and crank means to allow rotation simultaneously of master and work pieces,

support means rotatably secured to the ring gear means and to the frame for securely supporting said master and work pieces,

an upright table having its lower portion secured to an edge of the secondary table, the upper portion of the upright table supporting a pulley mechanism over which is threaded a rope,

a pair of vertically disposed cylindrical rods mounted upon said upright table, an elevating table mounted by linear bearings upon said vertically disposed rods for elevational movement relative to the frame and providing travel in respect thereto, said elevating table having extendingly disposed shaft stubs in alignment with each other, a hub rotatably mounted on each of said shaft stubs,

a tilting plate secured to the hubs for rotating with the hubs about the axis of sais shaft stubs,

and means disposed upon the tilting plate for mounting a stylus to follow the master piece and for mounting a router to cut the work piece.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein at least the linear bearings of the elevating table comprise at least three peripherally spaced ball bearing roller bearings each engaging the associated rod mounted on the upright table.

3. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the ball bearing roller bearings are provided with mounting means for adjustment laterally thereof to enable compensation and adjustment for play and to provide essentially true vertical movement of the elevating table with respect to the entire apparatus.

4. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the hubs are provided with locking means including an arcuate recess for receiving a threaded member engaging with lever means to tighten the hub to the elevating table.

8. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the support means includes a universal joint in supporting the master and work pieces from the ring gear means, and wherein the support means includes a ball joint in supporting the master and work pieces from the frame.

9. The invention according to claim 1, wherein illumination means is mounted upon the elevating table directed upon the master and work pieces. 

1. An improved pantograph apparatus comprising: a rectangular frame having a pair of horizontally disposed cylindrical rods mounted thereon, a table mounted by linear bearings upon said rods for longitudinal movement relative to the frame, a pair of horizontally disposed secondary cylindrical rods mounted upon said table, a secondary table mounted by linear bearings upon said secondary rods for transverse movement relative to the frame and providing travel in directions throughout a horizontal plane, at one end of the frame ring gear, pinion and crank means to allow rotation simultaneously of master and work pieces, support means rotatably secured to the ring gear means and to the frame for securely supporting said master and work pieces, an upright table having its lower portion secured to an edge of the secondary table, the upper portion of the upright table supporting a pulley mechanism over which is threaded a rope, a pair of vertically disposed cylindrical rods mounted upon said upright table, an elevating table mounted by linear bearings upon said vertically disposed rods for elevational movement relative to the frame and providing travel in respect thereto, said elevating table having extendingly disposed shaft stubs in alignment with each other, a hub rotatably mounted on each of said shaft stubs, a tilting plate secured to the hubs for rotating with the hubs about the axis of sais shaft stubs, and means disposed upon the tilting plate for mounting a stylus to follow the master piece and for mounting a router to cut the work piece.
 2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein at least the linear bearings of the elevating table comprise at least three peripherally spaced ball bearing roller bearings each engaging the associated rod mounted on the upright table.
 3. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the ball bearing roller bearings are provided with mounting means for adjustment laterally thereof to enable compensation and adjustment for play and to provide essentially true vertical movement of the elevating table with respect to the entire apparatus.
 4. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the hubs are provided with locking means including an arcuate recess for receiving a threaded member engaging with lever means to tighten the hub to the elevating table.
 5. The invention according to claims 1 and 4, wherein the tilting plate is non-radially mounted with respect to the axis of the shaft stubs.
 6. The invention according to claim 1, wherein indicia of degree and position from a vertical orientation are provided upon the hubs.
 7. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the rope fed over the pulley is secured at one end to said elevating table and at the other to a counterweight.
 8. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the support means includes a universal joint in supporting the master and work pieces from the ring gear means, and wherein the support means includes a ball joint in supporting the master and work pieces from the frame.
 9. The invention according to claim 1, wherein illumination means is mounted upon the elevating table directed upon the master and work pieces. 